Chapter 21

I lifted a sleeping Isolde off the chair and began to carry her down the beach toward our end of the house.

We’d earned the spanking we got during the volleyball games. Served us right—pun absolutely intended—for assuming we would be better. Then we found out Isolde played volleyball all the way through college and the only reason she didn’t go further was because she chose to retire, not because she didn’t have offers.

Shaking my head, I looked down at my sleepy Omega, hair windswept and sandy, lips parted just enough to make them kissable. I imagined them red and swollen from too many kisses, the way her mouth would look after I chased her, caught her, and made her mine.

The whole group had played games until we were starving. Then we ate, played some more, and it had become an impromptu party. No bonfire this time, but music and drinks. Some people went in the water. A bridesmaid who had a pack had gone inside with her guys. One of the groomsmen and his husband also left for some alone time.

We’d stayed, watching Isolde as she talked with her sister and Warren. Chatted with the other bridesmaids. Watched her open up like the flowers she smelled like and be in her element.

But a whole day of people and sun wore her out. It wasn’t late, but she’d started drooping even though she hadn’t been drinking.

A figure stood near the steps to our veranda. I smothered the growl in my chest and turned to the others behind me. “Someone take her, please.”

Hawk lifted her out of my arms and into his. She barely stirred, snuggling into his chest. “What’s up?”

I nodded over my shoulder. “He and I are going to have a chat.”

“Be careful.” Rowan put a hand on my shoulder as he passed.

It wasn’t a warning for my safety, but for Isolde’s. Don’t make anything worse for her. That wasn’t my intention.

But this asshole had already done enough in her life. She didn’t need him skulking around in the shadows waiting to pounce and make her talk about things she didn’t want to remember.

Isolde had us now, whether or not she believed it, and as her Alpha, my job was to protect her. So that’s what I would do.

I stayed back until the others were inside, watching as they passed Beau. He didn’t stop them and didn’t speak, just watched. Clearly he’d been hoping she’d come back by herself.

One breath in, one breath out. “Remember, Vaughn, you can’t kill him,” I muttered to myself. Then I raised my voice. “Can I help you?”

Beau jumped like I’d fired a shotgun behind him. Fucker hadn’t even noticed we weren’t all with her. “Uh, yeah, I was hoping to talk to Isolde. Our conversation earlier was cut short.”

“Our Omega is sleeping right now.”

He snorted and shook his head. “Your Omega. I get it. You don’t have to piss all over her to stake your claim. It just makes you look like assholes.”

I stared at him, waiting for him to fill the silence. Guys like Beau didn’t know how to be quiet. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked around before back at me. “Are you just going to stand there?”

“Until you leave? Yes.”

“I have every right to be here.”

“You have a right to be on this property. You do not have a right to stand outside our rooms like a stalker. So fuck off.”

“What the hell is your problem, man?” His face was too red. He’d been drinking, and his voice rose. “All I want to do is talk to the woman I was with for four years. That’s not a fucking crime.”

“No,” I admitted. “It’s not. But Isolde doesn’t want to talk to you. Because you were together for four years and then you put her out on the curb like your weekly trash. So until she says she wants to have a conversation with you, I expect you to keep your distance. Be a good boy and don’t speak unless you’re spoken to.”

Beau came at me, and I stood my ground. I wasn’t going to hit him. If he wanted to hit me, that was fine, but it wouldn’t work out well for him when my eye was black and he had to explain why.

“You think just because you’re with her now you get to talk to me like that? You don’t know shit.”

“I know enough. You’re drunk, Beau. Back off before you do something you regret.”

He growled. “I’m more likely to do something you’ll regret, and I will talk to Isolde any time I choose.” Regardless of the words, he left, lurching across the big lawn through the magnolia trees and toward the main house.

No wonder this guy didn’t have a pack. Pack bonds were inherent, but you also had to be open to that connection. Pack life was about sharing. Your life, your possessions, love, however it worked out for the people involved. If he was this possessive over someone he’d broken up with, I didn’t think it would work well for him.

I waited until he was out of sight to go inside, smiling when I saw Isolde curled up in the middle of the giant bed with everyone else around her, watching, entranced. Like Isolde was a dragon egg at the center of our hoard.

Which she was.

The most precious thing imaginable.

“He’s gone?” Joel asked.

“Yeah, but don’t expect him to stay that way. There’s something up with him. He really wants to talk to her. I can’t imagine why. He was drunk.”

Rowan growled softly. “I’m starting to put a picture together of this guy, and it’s not a good one.”

I didn’t disagree. Something didn’t fully add up. Isolde didn’t want him back. She’d made that clear, and I had no reason to doubt her. Plus, she was a terrible liar.

But Beau?

He wasn’t acting like a man who’d moved on. When Isolde wasn’t looking, he watched her. What he’d said to Rowan and Hawk was an attempt to scare us off. Now he’d tried to corner her twice.

Whatever it was, it didn’t sit well with me.

No matter what happened, with him or otherwise, we would be her shield.

Because it was about fucking time she had one.